When we reached the resort it was already 7pm.We checked into our rooms and just as we were unpacking we heard a knock. The room service personnel was at the door for our dinner orders. "Would you like to have your dinner around a bonfire?" He asked. There was a chill in the air and the idea of a bonfire sounded just the right thing and so we said a yes. We were in Araku valley that evening and we had bamboo chicken for dinner.
We stayed at the Haritha Valley resorts in Araku. This resort run by the Andhra Pradesh tourism development corporation (APTDC) is a beautiful property with cottage patterned rooms and picturesque greenery and views all around. The room rates are reasonable with options of air-conditioned and non air conditioned rooms. The breakfast offered here is a typical platter of Andhra cuisine and we were served with Upma , pongal , idli , dosa and a cup of delicious locally grown coffee.
What made our stay at the Haritha resorts more pleasant?
What we enjoyed the most was the bonfire on a chilly evening. We even cooked bamboo chicken in the bonfire with the guidance of the locals at the resort. The experience was super fun and we learnt how to cook the delicacy unique to this region.
Bamboo chicken is a unique recipe of the tribal people where the chicken is marinated in spices and packed in the hollow of a thick green bamboo and slow cooked in fire. When exploring Araku , tribal people can be seen preparing and selling this dish at almost all tourist spots. One can enjoy the mountain views of the eastern ghat ranges while munching on a plate of delicious bamboo chicken. For the health conscious folk, let me tell you a secret- this recipe of chicken is absolutely oil free and super healthy.
How to book Haritha resorts ?
Haritha resorts is run by the AP tourism department and can be booked directly from their website.
Click here to book Haritha resorts.
Room Rates:
There are 3types of rooms at this resort which can be booked from the website:
A/C suite : Rs. 2912/-
Non-A/C room: Rs. 2240/-
Premium A/c luxury suite : Rs. 3920/-
We stayed in an A/C suite and the room was comfortable with all amenities and a large balcony overlooking the lush garden. There was complimentary breakfast with our room which served Andhra cuisine.
The charges of arranging the bonfire and the bamboo chicken preparation cost us Rs.2700/-.Cost may vary according to the number of people as the quantity of chicken and the ingredients would increase accordingly.
Places to visit in Araku Valley:
This museum in Araku valley is a must visit to know about the life and traditions of the tribal communities of this region. This museum showcases the daily life , rituals and cuisine of the tribal communities by displaying life sized statues.
This museum is a newly constructed museum located on the opposite side of the tribal museum. This museum shows the history of the journey of coffee beans from the forests to the cup of almost every individual all over the world. At this place one can enjoy cups of delicious coffee from the local coffee plantations. Also, this a great place to buy some delicious handmade local chocolates and colourful wooden and clay handicrafts.
Araku Valley has extensive coffee and black pepper plantations and visiting a plantation is one of the best experiences of this trip. If you visit at the right time you can find red coffee berries in the coffee shrubs. Pepper plants are creeping plants and can be seen as bushes on the trunks of the tall trees in the plantation. reen pepper fruits can be seen growing in these plants which when dried would turn into the hot black pepper which we use in our dishes. Also, the road side across these plantations is the best place to have delicious cups of coffee and buy spices at super reasonable rates.
Padmapuram garden is a botanical garden in Araku valley where there are lots of plants and beautiful gardens and plant nursery. The enjoyable way of exploring these gardens are by the toy train. At the garden nursery , plant lovers can buy their own pepper plants as a unique souvenir from this trip.
These are one of the largest cave complex in this country. These caves have an extensive limestone and mineral deposition which form stalactites and stalagmites. The locals with their imagination and folklores have given these formations the place of deities and worship them. A trip among the caves with a local guide is a beautiful experience where one can witness natural phenomena and folk interpretations at the same time.
There is a beautiful pre-independence era church in Araku valley which is located on the way to the Haritha resorts. This is a completely offbeat location and not on any tourist map. However, I found this place to be the most beautiful and refreshing among all other view points in Araku. This beautiful blue and white church is located on a hilltop and is surrounded by the lush green Ananthagiri hills of the Eastern Ghats. One must stop at this spot and enjoy the views and the cool breeze and the peaceful vibes of this 1939 built church.
This is a view point at the Araku Valley from where one can experience the beautiful green hills of the Ananthagiri hills. At this view point ,in addition to experiencing the panoramic views of the verdant hills one can also buy spices and coffee and enjoy the delicious bamboo chicken from local sellers.
Araku valley is a very beautiful place nestled among the eastern ghats. A trip to Andhra Pradesh is incomplete without a day spent in this valley. The best time to visit is between October to February when the weather remains cold and fresh. I had a wonderful experience and have come back with bags full of pleasant memories. If you are planning a trip to this state in Southern India, then Araku valley must be on top of your list.
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